Cornerback Ike Taylor has said repeatedly that young players need to be productive for the Pittsburgh Steelers to be legitimate title contenders this season. Antwon Blake, a second-year cornerback, answered the call Sunday when a banged-up Taylor was forced to the sideline against the AFC North rival Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The stat sheet had Blake for four tackles and two passes defended — all in the fourth quarter. More importantly, he held Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green in check after the Steelers moved ahead 28-21. Green twice got behind Taylor for long receptions, including an 81-yard touchdown. Blake, though, blanketed Green on a key third-and-9 throw that...

Related "A.J. Green" Articles

Cornerback Ike Taylor has said repeatedly that young players need to be productive for the Pittsburgh Steelers to be legitimate title contenders this season.
Antwon Blake, a second-year cornerback, answered the call Sunday when a banged-up Taylor was...

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) have won more AFC North championships than any of their rivals, but they have not won the division since 2010. They will seek AFC North title No. 7 tonight against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"Really, you just want to...

By John Perrotto, The Sports Xchange
PITTSBURGH — Antonio Brown started the scoring with a 71-yard punt return and ended it with a 63-yard reception as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 27-17 Sunday night in a showdown for the AFC North...

Officiating prompted conversation and consternation all season in the NFL, so why should the playoffs — particularly the pass interference call that was, then suddenly wasn't, in the Cowboys' wild-card win over the Lions — be any different?
There's...

By Jeff Wallner, The Sports Xchange
CINCINNATI — Ben Roethlisberger passed for 350 yards and three touchdowns and the Pittsburgh Steelers revived their playoff hopes with a 42-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in a key AFC North clash at Paul...

It's lonely out there on Sexy Rexy Island. As far as Rex Ryan can see, there is nothing but losses floating on the horizon. As far as the Jets coach can see, there are waves and waves of tabloid pages floating the news that this guy is going to be...

Tom Brady, Darrelle Revis, Rob Gronkowski, Jerod Mayo and Logan Mankins didn't play for the New England Patriots and Washington held out Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Ryan Clark because of minor injuries in the Redskins' 23-6 victory in a preseason...

Rich Eisen went on David Letterman on Wednesday night to talk about The NFL Network's wall-to-wall coverage of the draft. It actually begins at 11 this morning with "Path to the Draft" and the pre-draft stuff continues all day. As for the draft itself, it begi

CINCINNATI -- Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is headed to his second Pro Bowl, replacing the injured Aaron Rodgers.
Dalton was a seventh alternate in voting for the Pro Bowl last month. Rodgers had a calf injury during the playoffs. Green Bay lost the...

The Colts might have liked an earlier start time for Sunday's wild-card game against the Bengals.
As in October.
That's when the Colts were rolling, amassing at least 400 yards in eight of their first nine games. They have cooled over the past two...

For the second consecutive game, Ravens starting cornerback Lardarius Webb was scratched because of a lingering lower back injury.
Although Webb was closer to playing this week after increasing his mobility and flexibility, the Ravens want Webb to be 100...

Injuries and opportunity. It's why you shouldn't beat yourself up after a bad draft or gloat too much after a fast start. With a big hit or a benching, power can change hands quickly in the fantasy football world, even this late in the season.
Injuries...

In the end, the Ravens still weren't good enough.
If they were, they would have walked out of Paul Brown Stadium Sunday with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead, they lost to another team that appeared in the postseason a year ago.
Of their...

Last week in parentheses.
1. Broncos 4-1 (2): Challenging stretch coming: 49ers and Chargers at home in five-day span and then a visit to the Patriots.
2. Chargers 5-1 (3): Rookie running back Branden Oliver has gone past 100 yards rushing in two...

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers shared an empty feeling after Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium, in which neither team won or lost.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called it "a missed opportunity."
Panthers coach Ron...

Injuries are a pain (sorry about that) -- unless you're the beneficiary. That looks to be a recurring theme in Week 6 as key injuries on offense and defense present opportunities for certain players to fill up the fantasy football stat sheets.
START
...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots responded in a big way Sunday night.
Facing the prospect of their first 2-3 start since 2001 and amid rumors of inner turmoil including future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady being mad at management, the...

Emotional about Ray Rice's release and still stinging from a season-opening defeat, the Ravens play AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers in two days.
The quick turnaround looms for the Ravens following a disappointing game Sunday in which they lost,...